To the editor,
I read Dan McNee’s column, “An issue that really shouldn’t be one at all,” appearing in the Feb. 10, 2022 issue of the Independent Plus, and I could not agree more.
I have spent most of my career driving as a cameraman for CKNX Television for over 30 years (I am now retired). I have watched the attitude of drivers towards safety decline over that period. It has become a “me first, then you” culture with drivers not bothering to stop at a stop sign, failing to signal their intent, pulling around a slow-moving vehicle into oncoming traffic, and sometimes forcing oncoming cars onto the shoulder. I did not realize that the problem of drivers not stopping for school buses had become so prevalent.
I rode the bus to school from Grade 6 to high school graduation. At that time we did have an issue with drivers passing our stopped school bus. They solved the issue by having an OPP cruiser drive in front of the bus. It was actually quite refreshing to watch a driver initiate a pass, see the cruiser and then have to try and back up behind the bus.
The idea of cameras on the school bus safety arm is an excellent one and should be adopted province-wide. Penalties, in my opinion, should be so stiff that a driver would not even think about passing a stopped school bus. I think the fine should start at $10,000 with a full year of licence suspension.
Shortly before we moved to Wingham, there was an incident in front of the house in which we now live. A driver passed a stopped school bus and killed a young girl who was crossing the street. My question is, what the hell was the big hurry and was it worth the life of a young girl?
Thanks for listening.
Ward Robertson
Wingham
